Motion picture processing and projection system employing multi-purpose cassette

ABSTRACT

A motion picture system utilizing a cassette having two releasably connected sections. In one section respective ends of a strip of film are permanently attached to reels for reversible transport across a film gate, while the other section contains development fluid. Initially, when the two sections are connected together, the cassette is adapted to be positioned in a camera for exposure purposes. Subsequently, the two sections are separated and mounted independently in a unique projector in which the film is sequentially and simultaneously developed, by passing a loop thereof drawn from the film gate of the first section through the developing fluid contained in the second section, dried and projected through an appropriate optical system. Specially devised features are employed in the projector to release the development fluid from a sealed container into a reservoir section of the developing section of the cassette, to draw the loop of film from the film gate of the first section and insert the loop into the reservoir of development fluid, to dry the developed film and to subsequently retain the development fluid in a safe manner.

United States Patent [191 Takats 95/905 [111 3,809,104 Downe Ma 7 1974 yy a MOTION PICTURE PROCESSING AND Primary ExaminerFred L. BraunPROJECTION SYSTEM EMPLOYING MULTI-PURPOSE CASSETTE [57] ABSTRACT [75]inventor: Rogers Downey Lexington Mass A motion picture system utilizinga cassette having [73] Assignee: Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, tworeleasably connected sections. In one section re- Mass. spective ends ofa strip of film are permanently attached to reels for reversibletransport across a film [22] Wed: Deci 1972 gate, while the othersection contains development [21] Appl. No.: 313,838 fluid. Initially,when the two sections are connected together, the cassette is adapted tobe positioned in a Related Apphcauon D ata camera for exposure purposes.Subsequently, the two [62] f f f 0f 83,645 1970 which is 3 sections areseparated and mounted independently in g'g fgg; 761771 Sept 1968 aunique projector in which the film is sequentially and simultaneouslydeveloped, by passing a loop v thereof drawn from the film gate of thefirst section 2% a" 95/89 352/78 through the developing fluid containedin the second d R 90 section, dried and projected through an appropriate1 le 0 352/78 k 5 optical system. Specially devised features are emlo edin the rojector to release the development P y P 56 R f Ct d fluid froma sealed container into a reservoir section l e erences e of thedeveloping section 'of the cassette, to draw the UNITED STATES PATENTSloop of film from the film gate of the first section and 3,533,349lO/l970 Schmidt 95/905 X insert the loop into the reservoir ofdevelopment fluid, 2,385,681 9/1945 Brick r 95/94 R to dry the developedfilm and to subsequently retain 2,856,829 10/1958 Orlando 95/89 R X thedevelopment fl id in a Safe manner. 3,383,998 5/1968 12 Claims. 6Drawing Figures EATENTEDHAY 7 I974 SHEET 2 OF 4 FIG.2

' PATENTEDMM 7 1974 SHEET 3 OF 4 FIG.4:

MOTION PICTURE PROCESSING AND PROJECTION SYSTEM EMPLOYING MULTI-PURPOSECASSETTE This is a division of copending application Ser. No. 83,645filed Oct. 23, 1970, which is in turn a division of U.S. Pat. No.3,597,062 issued Aug. 3, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relatesto motion picture photography and, more particularly, to improvedapparatus for simplified and rapid exposure, processing, projection andediting of motion picture film.

2. Description of the Prior Art Traditionally, motion picturephotography for home use has involved the following procedures:

1. Unexposed film is procured by a user.

2. The user threads the film from a reel through the mechanism of acamera and then exposes the film as desired.

3. The exposed film is mailed to a processing laboratory. 4. Thelaboratory processes the film, repackages it on a reel and returns it tothe user.

5. The user then mounts the reel in a projector, threads it through amechanism of the projector to a take-up reel permanently retainedtherein and then projects it onto a screen.

The extended delay normally incurred between the time the exposed filmis mailed to a laboratory and returned ready for viewing has proved tobe a significant inconvenience to the user and a source of greatannoyance.

Certain important improvements have been made in recent years tosimplify the job of home motion picture photography. For example,cassette systems are now available which are adapted to be quicklymounted as a unit into a camera for exposures purposes. After the filmhas been exposed, the cassette containing the film can be quicklyremoved from the camera and mailed to a processing laboratory.

Even more recently, specially designed projectors have been marketedwhich utilize quick mounting cassettes containing the developed film.These systems not only greatly ease the job of projecting the film, butalso provide a permanent storage container for the film, i.e., thecassette, from which it is never necessary to withdraw the film forprojection purposes.

However, neither of these significant improvements has solved the majorinconvenience associated with home motion picture photography, i.e., thetime delay between the taking of the film and its availability forprojection. Additionally, while camera cassettes simplify the proceduresfor loading film into and removing film from a camera, they do notsimplify the multi-step laboratory development process which stillrequires repackaging of the film for projection purposes. Further,accessibility to film packaged in commercially available projectorcassettes for the purpose of editing has not proved generallysatisfactory.

The field of still photography is no longer hampered by extensiveperiods of delay between the time a picture is taken and the time whenthe finished product can be enjoyed. The impact on the public of theonestep photographic process employing diffusion transfer techniques isa matter of record and generally well known. The home photographer cannow see the fruits of his efforts in a matter of seconds. This importantconvenience has been available to the still photographer for many years.However, his fellow hobbyist, interested in motion pictures, has haduntil now to wait a matter of days and even, in some instances, weeksbefore he could see the results of his work. The motion picture artshave lacked a simplified exposing, processing and projecting systemwhich can be operated by any amateur photographer and which assuresquick and easy access to and projection of fully developed film. v

In commercial and industrial operations such a rapid processing andprojection system will not only prove to be an improvement as a matterof convenience, but will have other important effects as well. Forinstance, motion picture newsreel programs can now be presented ontelevision to the viewing public shortly after events of interest haveoccurred and been photographed.

This invention overcomes the above noted limita-' tions of heretoforedevised motion picture systems and provides a system which is readilyusable by even amateur photographers to easily and quickly expose,process, project and edit film.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a compactmotion picture cassette which can be utilized in both a camera andprojector.

A further object of this invention is to provide a motion picturecassette in which the developing chemicals are safely and permanentlystored.

Another object of this invention is to provide a motion picture cassettein which the film is permanently retained during exposure, processing,projection and editing procedures.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a motion pictureprojector in which exposed film can be processed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a motion pictureprojector in which film can be sequentially and simultaneously processedand exposed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a simple andefficient mechanism for drawing a loop of film from a cassette forpurposes of developing latent f images recorded thereon.

Also, an object of this invention is to provide a motion pictureprojector in which a cassette containing development fluid can bemounted such that the development fluid is never permitted to constitutea hazard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features that are consideredcharacteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to itsorganization and its method of operation, together with additionalobjects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers have beenemployed in the different figures to denote the same parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motion picture film cassette embodyingfeatures of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view partially in section of a projectorembodying features of this invention and in which the separate sectionsof the cassette illustrated in FIG. 1 are mounted;

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiment of this inventionbriefly comprises a compact cassette constituted by two releasablyconnected sections. The first section is provided with a film gate andcontains reel means, to which the ends of a motion picture film stripare permanently attached and which, further, are adapted to reversiblytransport the motion picture film across the film gate when connected toappropriate external drive means. In the second section of the cassette,development chemicals for the film are initially stored in a crushablecontainer from which they can be subsequently released into a reservoirarea of that section. Access means into the reservoir area are providedand an absorption material is positioned adjacent that area.

The cassette, with the two separable sections connected together, isadapted to be utilized in a motion picture camera for exposure purposes.After the film has been exposed in the camera, the two sections may beseparated and mounted individually in a specially devised projector.

A recess provided in the housing of the first section of the cassette isadapted to receive a mirror of the projector behind that portion of thefilm strip disposed across the film gate when this cassette section ismounted in the projector. Also, two slidably mounted idlers of theprojector are operable to draw a loop of the film from the film gate andto position it, through the access means of the developing section ofthe cassette, in the reservoir area and thence through a film dryingstation of the projector.

A solenoid in the projector can then be energized to crush or puncturethe container in which the development fluid is initially stored. Thedevelopment fluid is then free to flow into the reservoir area whereinit is in operative relationship with the film. At this time theabsorption material is disposed above the development fluid in thereservoir area.

The loop of film returns from the drying station to the film gate of thefilm handling section of the cassette. On its return to the reel means,it comes into operable relationship with the optical system of theprojector which includes the aforementioned mirror positioned behind thefilm strip in the recess of the film handling section of the cassette.

Drive means of the projector engage the reel means of the film handlingsection of the cassette such that the loop of film is drawn from asupply reel through the development fluid, through the drying station,through the optical system whereby it may be projected on an appropriatescreen and thence onto a take-up reel in the film handling section ofthe cassette. After this operation has once been performed, the slidablymounted idlers of the projector can be manipulated to permit the film toreturn to its initial position across the film gate. The drive means ofthe projector can be operated in a reverse direction to return the filmfrom the .4 take-up reel to the supply reel. Subsequent viewings of thefilm can be effected by operating the projector in the conventional,i.e., projection only, mode.

The means of the projector for receiving the developing section of thecassette are rotatably mounted. Consequently, after the film strip hasbeen processed and the film loop return to its original position acrossthe film gate, the film developing section can be rotated to bring thedeveloping fluid in the reservoir area into contact with the absorptionmaterial. Thus, the developing fluid will be thereafter permanentlyretained by the absorption material within this section of the eassette.This section of the cassette can then be disposed of and the developedfilm permanently retained in the other section of thecassette forstorage and subsequent projection purposes.

Editing of the film can readily be accomplished by withdrawing a-loopincluding the section of interest from the film gate and removingsections thereof and- /or adding sections thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A currently preferredembodiment of this invention makes use of a film structure whichcomprises both a photosensitive negative emulsion and an imagereceivinglayer to which a positive image may be transferred by diffusion duringdevelopment without necessitating the subsequent removal of the emulsioncontaining its developed negative image. This highly desirable featureis made possible by a developed negative image having low coveringpower.

In typical silver transfer-reversal processes for the production ofblack-and-white images, a silver halide developer and a silver halidesolvent are applied in an aqueous alkaline solution to a photoexposedsilver halide stratum or emulsion, where they develop exposed silverhalide to silver and react with unreduced silver halide to form asoluble silver complex. This complex, in order to form a positive print,is transferred and reduced to silver on a silver-receptive stratum uponwhich the silver halide stratum has been superposed. It. has generallybeen the practice, in the completion of this process, to separatethe'silver-receptive and silver halide strata in order to render thepositive print visible.

However, as indicated above, the positive print may be rendered visiblewithout separation of the silver halide and silver-receptive strata. Forexample, the silverreceptive stratum may be so constituted as to providean unusually vigorous silver precipitating environment which causes thesilver deposited upon it, in comparison with silver developed in thesilver halide stratum, to possess very high covering power, i.e.,opacity for a given mass of reduced. silver. If the silver halide is insuch a concentration as to give rise only when fully developed to apredetermined low maximum density, and if the silver complex is reducedto-silver in a vigorous silver precipitating environment, the resultingnegative and positive prints in super-position provide a composite printthat presents a good image for projection purposes as long as they arecontained on a transparent support. Since the silver halide stratum andthe silverreceptive stratum may not be separated, an overallsimplification of the silver transfer-reversal process is achieved.

A composite filmassembly of this type as well as processing compositionsfor producing a fully developed black-and-white image without thenecessity of removing the developed negative image after processing areshown in prior U.S. Pat. No. 2,861,885 of Edwin H. Land which issued onNov. 25, 1958. Other composite film assemblies capable of producingdeveloped fullcolor images without the necessity of removing thedeveloped emulsion are shown in prior U.S. Pats. of Edwin H. Land Nos.2,726,154 issued Dec. 6, 1955 and 2,944,894 issued July 12, 1960. Itshould be noted that the present invention is not directed to thechemistry by which images are developed in the photosensitive emulsionand transferred to an image-receiving stratum. However, in the practiceof this invention, whether the film employed is black-and-white film orcolor film, it is preferably of a type not requiring the removal of thenegative emulsion after it is developed.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a motion picture film cassetteis shown which can be utilized in exposing, processing, projecting andediting operations. The cassette 10 is constituted by two separatesections releasably connected together by strips of tape 12. A firstsection 14 may be considered the film handling section, while a secondsection 16 may be considered the film developing section.

The film handling section 14 may advantageously take the form of thefilm handling sections of the cassettes described in copendingapplications Ser. No. 761,756 of Gerald H. Cook filed Sept. 23, 1968 nowissued as U.S. 'Pat. No. 3,584,944, and'Ser. No

783,242 of Rogers B. Downey filed Dec. 12, 1968 now issued as U.S. Pat.No. 3,584,942, both of which applications are assigned to the assigneeof the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1,.it contains a supplyreel 18 and a take-up reel 20 mounted on parallel pins 22, 24,respectively, for rotation within its housing 26.

Respective ends of a strip 28 of motion picture film of the typepreviously described are permanently affixed to the supply reel 18 andthe take-up reel 20. The film strip 28 in unexposed condition isinitially coiled on the supply reel 18 and passes around idlers 30, 32,

34, in reaching the take-up reel 20. In traveling from idler 32 to idler34, the film strip 28 traverses a film gate-36 provided in the housing26. Removably positioned behind the film strip 28 and the film gate 36is a pressure plate 38 which provides support for the film duringexposure operations.

As'will be explained in more detail in connection with the descriptionof FIG. 2 of the drawings, the reels 18, 20 are appropriately arrangedsuch that they can be connected to drive means external to the cassettel0 and rotated in either direction. The film handling section 14 thusincludes reel means which can be connected to external drive'means tocause the-film strip 28 to be reversibly transported across the filmgate 36.

A portion 40 of the housing 26 is configured to provide a recess 42behind the film 28'as it traverses-the film gate 36. It will be notedthat the pressure plate 38 initially partially occupies this recess 42.Accessibility into the film handling section 14 behind the film strip 28is therefore provided for purposes which will subsequently becomeapparent.

The cassette 10, with its first section 14 connected to its secondsection 16 by the strips of tape 12, is conpicture taking process, thereel means of the film handling section 14 engage the drive means of thecamera such that the film strip 28 is transported across the film gate36 from the supply reel 18 onto the take-up reel 20. Latent images arethereby recorded on the film strip.

Subsequent to the exposure process, the cassette 10 is withdrawn fromthe camera and its-two sections 14 and 16 separated by removing thestrips of tape 12. These sections 14, '16 of the cassette 10 are thenadapted to be individually mounted in a projector 44 (See FIG. 2). Ineffect, the housing of the projector 44 consists of a frame member 46enclosed by a rear panel 48 and a front panel 50. Hinged to, and formingpart of, the front panel 50 is a door 52.

As best seen in FIG. 2, thefilm handling section 14 of the cassette 10'is adapted to be mounted in spring clamps 54 which extend inwardly fromthe rear panel 48. Similarly, the film developing section 16 of theeassette 10 is adapted to be mounted in springclamps 56 of the projector44. However, in this latter instance, the spring clamps 56 are formed onor connected to the ends of spokes 58 extending radially from a hub 60.

This hub 60 is rotatably mounted frornthe rear panel 48 of the projector44 and operable by movement of a hand knob 61 (See FIG. 5 As shown inFIG. 2, when initially mounted in the projector 44, one corner 62 of thedeveloping section 16 isdisposed below the other corners thereof. A pin63 extending from the rear panel 48 and located between adjacent spokes58, acts as a stop to limit the degree of rotation of the filmdeveloping section 16 in either direction within the projector 44.

The developing section 16 of the cassette 10 is provided with anaperture 64 and a recessed or weakened portion 66 forpurposes to be morefully explained. Alternately, the aperture 64 may also take the form ofa recessed or weakened portion of the developing section 16. Developmentchemicals 68, suitable for processing the film strip 28 after it hasbeen exposed, are initially retained in a container 70. This containermay be formed of any suitable crushable or rupturable materialcompatible with the development chemicals 68 themselves. For instance,the container 70 may be formed of a lead sheathed plastic material or,as in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in a frangible glassvial. In the latter instance, the glass vial container 70 is enclosed bya woven mesh of material 72 such ascotton or nylon.

Mounted from the rear panel 48 so' as to be positioned over therecessedor'weakened portion 66 of the film developing section 16 is a plunger 74driven by a solenoid 76. It will thus be recognized than-when thesolenoid is energized, the plunger 74 will break through the weakenedportion 66 of the film developing section l6 and crush the frangibleglass vial container 70, thereby permitting the development fluid orchemicals 68 to flow through the woven mesh of material 72 into 'areservoir area'78 of the cassettes development section 16. By initiallymounting the film developing section 16 in the tilted position shown inFIG. 2, a reservoir area 78 of greater depth is obtained than would bepossible if the section were mounted with the bottom of the reservoiraligned horizontally.

Also positioned within the film developing section 16 is a pad ofabsorption material 80, such as cotton, which is disposed above thedevelopment chemicals 68 when they are retained in the reservoir area78. It will 'be appreciated that subsequent rotation of the hub 60 in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, will cause the developmentchemicals 68 to come into contact with and be absorbed by the absorptionmaterial 80.

After the pressure plate 38 has been removed from the film handlingsection 14 of the cassette l and this tended positions to which theseidlers 86, 88 can becaused to move, in a manner to be described, areillustrated in FIG. 2, while their initial positions are shown inphantom in the same figure and designated 86 and 88, respectively.

-As may best be seen .in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rear panel 48 of theprojector 44 is provided with a slot 92 and a recess 94 communicatingtherewith. The idler 86 is rotatably mounted from one end of an arm 96,which positions'the idler in substantially the same plane with the filmstrip 28. The other end of the arm 96 slidably receives a pin 98 whichalso passes through the slot 92. One end of the pin 98 is provided witha hand knob 100 adapted to seat in the recess 94, while its other end isprovided with a spring 102 which continually urges the pin and hand knobassembly inwardly of the projector 44. The hand knob 100 can thus bemanipulated to displace the idler 86 between a first position (shown inphantom in FIGS. 2 and 3) and a second or fully extended position. Aspreviously indicated, when the idler 86 is in its initial position, itis located within the recess 42 of the cassettes film handling sectionand behind the film strip 28 extending across the film gate 36. As thehand knob 100 is moved from its initial position to its fully extendedposition, the idler engages the film strip 28; and draws a loop thereoffrom the film gate 36 over and between the idlers 82 and 83.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, the idler 88 is rotatably mounted at oneend of an S-shaped spring member 104. Slidably positioned through a slot106, provided in the door 52 of the projector 44, and affixed to theother end of the spring member 104 is a stud 108. A hand knob 110operable from the exterior 'of the projectors door 52 includes a pin 112which passes through the slot 106 and an aperture 114 in the springmember 104 to which it is affixed by a locking ring 1 16. With one endof the S-shaped spring member 104 fixedly spaced with respect to thedoor 52 by the stud 108, the natural forces in that member continuallytend to pull the hand knob 110 against the door. Consequently, as thespring member is displaced from its initial position (shown in phantomin FIG. 4) to its extended position by moving the hand knob 110downwardly along the slot 106, the hand knob will automatically seat ina recess 118 provided in the door 52 to lock that member in its fullyextended position.-

After a loop of film 28 has been drawn from the eassettes film handlingsection 14 by displacing the hand knob 100 from its initial position toits lowermost position along slot 92 with the projector door'52 open,the door or the projector can be closed and the idler 88 will initiallypositionitself within the drawn loop of film 28 as shown in phantom inFIG. 2. At this-time the natural forces within the S-shaped springmember 104 cause the'idler 88 to extend partially across the film strip28 (See FIG. 4). As the hand knob is moved downwardly in the slot-106,the idler 88 contacts the film strip 28 and, as .it continues its'downward path, its curved roller surface 120 will cause the loop of filmstrip to slide inwardly on the roller until it is centered thereon.Continuing its downward movement, the idler 88 engages a guide post 122which extends inwardly from the door 52 of the, projector 44v and whichurges the idler away from the door permitting it to enter the filmdeveloping section 16 of the cassette 10 through its aperture 64. Inthis manner, the loop of film strip 28 initially drawn from the filmgate 36 of the film handling section 14, is additionally passed over andbetween idlers 83 and 84 and introduced into the reservoir area 78 ofthe film developing section 16 through its aperture 64. At this point,the loop of filmstrip 28 drawn from the film gate 36 takes theconfiguration as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

A specially configured wall member 128 provided with channels 130, 132also extends from the inner face of the door 52 of vthe projector 44.After the twosecstrip 28 enters through channel and from which it exitsthrough channel 132. 1

An air blowing and heatingunit 138 is mounted on the exterior of theprojectors rear panel48 and communicates with the interior of the dryingstation 136 through duct 140. By energizing the heating and blowing unit138, warm air can be introduced through the duct 140, into the dryingstation 136, to impinge upon the film strip section 126, and thenexhausted from the drying station through a port 142 in the projectorsrear panel 48. I 1

Referring again to FIG. 2, it will. be seen that, after the loop of filmstrip 28 leaves the drying station 136, 1

it passes over idler 82 in reentering the film handling section 14 ontotake-up reel 20. Appropriately positioned on the rear panel 48 of theprojector are certain components of its optical system, i.e., a mirror144 and a back lens 146. When the film handling section 14 of thecassette 10 is mounted in the spring clamps 54, the mirror 144 ispositioned within the recess 42 behind the film strip 28 while the backlens 146 is positioned on the other side of the film strip in operablerelationship with the mirror and the film strip. The optical system ofthe projector 44 further includes a second mirror 148 and a front lens150, the latter element being in register with a flanged opening 152provided in the frame member 46. A dust cap 154 snugly seats on theflanged opening 152 of the projector 44.

A light source 156 mounted on the rear panel 48 (See FIGS. 2 and 5)directs light through an opening mirror 148 and thence through the frontlens 150 and out the projectors flanged opening 152.

As may also be seen in FIG. 2, the reel means of the cassettes filmhandling section 14 includes a spur gear 160 connected to a pinion 162on the take-up reel 20. When the film handling section 14 is mounted inthe projector 44, a recess 164 of the spur gear 160 receives a driveshaft 166 extending from the projectors rear panel 48 and rotatablymounted thereto. The drive shaft 166 in turn is connected to a motor 168of the projector 44 by a pulley 170. The drive shaft 166 also suppliespower, through a pulley 172, a wheel 174 mounted from the rear panel 48,and a claw member 176 eccentrically mounted on the wheel 174 and adaptedto engage sprocket holes 178 of the film strip 28, to intennittentlyadvance the film strip across the film gate 36. Additionally, as isconventional, a rotating blade shutter (not shown) is mounted to theprojectors rear panel 48, so as to be disposed between the light source156 and the mirror 144 and geared or otherwise appropropriatelyconnected to the mechanism driving the claw member 176. Support for theclaw member 176 is provided by a guide member 182 and a spring 184mounted on the rear panel 48 of the projector 44. A conventional clutch186 cooperating with the drive shaft 166 provides means for selectivelyengaging the spur gear 160 of the film handling section 14 and the clawmember 176 with the projectors motor 168.

Also, when the cassettes film handling section 14 is mounted in thespring clamps 56, a recess 188 of the supply reel 18 receives a driveshaft 190 rotatably mounted to the projectors rear panel 48. This driveshaft is connected to the motor 168 through a conventional clutch 192 bya pulley 194.

It will be recognized that, with clutch 186 engaged and clutch 192disengaged, the motor 168 may be energized to drive the .take-up reel20, whereby the film strip 28 will be drawn from the supply reel 18across the film gate 36 .onto the take-up reel 20. Simultaneously, theclaw member 176 will engage the sprocket holes 178 of the film strip 28to provide intermittent movement of the film across the projectorsoptical system as is conventional and the shutter operated insynchronization therewith. Also, by proper manipulation of the handknobs 100 and 110, a loop of the film strip 28 can be passed through thereservoir area 78 of the cassette s developing section 16 and the dryingstation 136 of the projector 44 as it passes across the film gate 36 andprior to its coming into operable relationship with the projectorsoptical system and then being coiled on the take-up reel 20.

With the clutch 186 disengaged and the clutch 192 engaged, the motor 168can be energized to return the film strip 28 from the take-up reel 20 tothe supply reel 18.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT To summarize the operation of thepreferred embodi- 6 nected together by pieces of tape 12 is adaptedtofbe quickly mounted in a motion picture camera. The reel means of thefilm handling section 14 engages the cam eras drive means whereby anoperator can selectively record images on the film strip 28 as ittraverses the film gate 36 in passing from the supply reel 18 to'thetake-up reel 20. During the picture-taking operation, the film 28 issupported across the film gate 36 by the removable pressure plate 38.After the film strip 28 has been completely exposed, the cassette 10 canbe quickly removed from the camera and replaced, when desired, by anidentical cassette containing unexposed film.

After exposure, the tapes 12 can be removed from the cassette 10, toseparate its film handling section 14 from its film developing section16, and the pressure plate 38 removed from the former section. Thesesections.l4 and l6.can then be independently mounted in the springclamps 54 and 56, respectively, of the projector 44 and the door 52closed. Turning a toggle switch 195 mounted on the outside of theprojectors rear panel 48 to its on position engages clutch 192 andenergizes the motor 168 whereby the exposed film strip 28 is returned tothe supply reel 18. Conventional means automatically returns the toggleswitch 195 to its off" position when the film strip 28 is completelycoiled on the supply reel 18.

By then opening the door 52 and displacing the hand knob to itslowermost position on the projector 44, the idler 86 will engage thesection of film strip 28 disposed across the film gate 36 and draw aloop thereof from the cassettes film handling section 14. Closing of thedoor 52 at this time defines the drying station 136 enclosing thesection 129 of the film strip 28 and positions the idler 88 within thedrawn loop of film strip. The hand knob can then be displaced to itslowermost position on the projector 44 to draw a section of the loop offilm strip 28 through the aperture 64 of the cassettes developingsection 16 and into the reservoir area 78 thereof. For reasons whichwill become obvious, the film strip 28 should include anonphotosensitive leader section approximately equivalent in length tothat portion of the film strip between the idler 32 of the film handlingsection 14 and the take-up reel 20 when the separate sections 14 and 16of the cassette 10 are mounted in the projector 44 and the hand knobs100 and 110 displaced to their lowermost positions (See FIG. 2).

The dust cap 154 should be removed from the flanged opening 152 and aprojection screen (not shown) appropriately positioned in front of theflanged opening. The solenoid 76 and the air heating and blowing unit138 are simultaneously energized by throwing a toggle switch 196,provided on the exterior of the rear panel 48 of the projector 44, fromits off position to its on position. When energized, the solenoid 76drives the plunger 74 through the weakened portion 66 of the cassette '5developing section 16 and into contact with the glass vial container 70which is instantaneously crushed thereby. The development chemicals 68,initially retained in the container '70, then flow through the mesh 72into the reservoir area 78 of the development section 16 and,consequently, come into contact with a portion of the film strip 28.

After the air heating and blowing unit 138 has been energized and thedevelopment chemicals 68 have had sufficient time to fill the reservoirarea 78 of the eassettes film developing section 16, a conventional timedelay circuit 9 connected to the toggle switch 196 engages the clutch186, and energizes both the motor 168 and the light source 156.Consequently, in this mode, the film strip 28 is drawn from the supplyreel 18 through the development chemicals 68 in the reserovir area 78 ofthe cassette s developing section 16, through the drying station 136 andbetween the mirror144and the back lens 146 onto the take-up reel 20 ofthe cas settes film handling section 14. During this operation,intermittent motion is transmitted to the film strip 28 as it passes infront of the mirror 144 by the claw member 176.

As the film 28 passes through the development chemicals 68 in thereservoir area 78, the latent images recorded thereon are developed and,as the developed film progresses through the drying station 136, theexcess liquid chemicals are evaporated therefrom. As the film strippasses in front of the mirror 144, which receives light from the lightsource 156, the developed images are projected by these and the otherelements of the optical system, i.e., back lens 146, mirror 148 cally toits off position when all of the film 28 has been uncoiled. from thesupply reel 18. Thus, at this point, the clutch 186 is disengaged andthe air heating and blowing unit 138, the motor 168, the light source156 and the solenoid 76 de-energized. The plunger 74 automaticallyreturns to its original position.

The dust cover 154 may be repositioned on the flanged opening 152 andthe idler 88 returned to its original position by drawing the hand knob110 out of the recess 118 and moving it to its uppermost position alongthe slot 106. The projector door 52 may then be opened and the idler 86returned to its initial position by drawing the hand knob 100 out of therecess 94 and moving it to its uppermost position along slot 92. Forobvious reasons the end of the film strip attached to the supply reelshould consist of a non-photosensitive leader substantially the samelength as that on the end attached to the take-up reel 20. With the door52 opened, the take-up reel should be manually rotated to draw thenon-photosensitive leader taut across the film gate 36 of the cassette'sfilm handling section 14.

The door 52 should then be closed and the toggle switch 195 again returnto its on position to rewind the film strip 28 onto the supply reel 18.As previously explained, when the film strip 28 is completely coiled onthe supply reel 18, the toggle switch 195 automatically returns to itsoff position de-energizing the motor 168 and disengaging the clutch 192.

At this time the hand knob 61 should be turned to effect a rotation ofthe cassette's film developing section 16 within the projector 44whereby the development chemicals 68 are brought into contact with theabosrption pad 80 for permanent and safe retention therein. The door 52can be opened and the cassettes film developing section 16 removed fromthe spring clamps 56 and disposed of as desired. The cassette's filmhandling section 14 can be removed from the spring clamps 54 andpermanently retained for subsequent viewings.

For additional viewings of the exposed and developed film in the filmhandling section 14, it is only necessary to again mount the filmhandling section in the spring clamps 54, to shut the door 52 and tomove a toggle switch 198 (mounted on the rear panel 48) to its onposition. In this position, the clutch 186 is engaged and only the motor168 and the light source 156 energized. The film strip 28 is then drawnby the takeup'reel 20 and the claw member 176 directly across the filmgate 36 for projection purposes only. Again, when the film strip 28 iscompletely coiled on the take-up reel 20, the switch 198 automaticallyreturns to its oft? position disengaging clutch 186 and deenergizing themotor 168 and the light source 156. By then moving toggle switch 195 toits on position, the film will be returned to the supply reel 18 and theeassettes film handling section 14 can be removed from the projector 44and stored as desired.

Editing of the developed film strip 28 can easily be effected. It isonly necessary to draw a loop of the film strip 28 from the film gate 36and to remove sections therefrom or to splice sections thereinto asdesired.

Those familiar with the motion picture arts will readily appreciate thenovel and highly unique advantages of this motion picture system. Acompact cassette structure is provided which is usable in both a camera,during exposure operations, and in a unique projector, for processingand/or projectionoperations. The development chemicals are permanentlystored with the film prior to the processing operation which assurescompatibility between the development chemicals and the particular filmemployed. Additionally, the develop ment chemicals are continuallyretained in the cassette structure itself in a hazard-free manner. Stillfurther, the film can be quickly and simply edited without removing itor detaching it from its permanent storage container. In an oversallsense and most importantly, this invention permits even the amateurphotographer to view his motion pictures in an extremely short period oftime after they have been taken.

This invention may be practiced or embodied in other ways withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential character thereof. For instance,the idlers 86 and 88 can be connected by a suitable mechanism such thatthe manual movement of a single band knob will effect their simultaneousdisplacement from initial to fully extended positions. Alternately, thissame operation can be completely automated. Also, the solenoid 76 andits plunger 74 can be replaced with other means, such as a prongextending from an innerface of the projectors rear panel 48, to rupturethe container as it is initially mounted in the spring clamps 56 of theprojector. While in the illustrated embodiment of the invention thenatural forces of the spring member 104 themselves cause the idler 88 toextend partially across the film strip 28, an elongated ofiset guidepost may be employed such that this idler is initially restrainedagainst the guide post in the desired position by the forces in thespring member. The preferred embodiment described herein is thereforeillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims and all variations which come withinthe meaning of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. Photographic apparatus for efi'ecting the processing of a strip ofphotographic film carried within a photographic film handling devicecomprising a first housing having anopening therein across which suchfilm strip may be serially advanced, and film advancing means responsiveto drive means of said apparatus for advancing such film strip in suchhousing, said apparatus comprising:

an apparatus housing;

receiving means for receiving a supply of processing fluid in saidapparatus housing;

mounting means for mounting such film handling device in said apparatushousing; and

means for effecting engagement between progressive incremental sectionsof such film strip and such fluid, said engagement effecting meansincluding means for withdrawing a loop of such strip of film throughsuch opening of-such first housing and for injecting at least a portionof such loop into such fluid and drive means for cooperating with suchfilm advancing means of such film handling device for effecting theprogressive advancement of such sections of such film strip away from afirst to a second position within such first housing so as to advancesuch film strip through such fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including film drying meanslocated within said apparatus so as to be in operative relation toportions of such film following the operative engagement of such filmportions with such fluid.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein such supply of fluid is retained ina second housing, such second housing including a container section forretaining such fluid and a reservoir section into which such fluid maybe released and access means communicating with said reservoir sectionand configured for cooperating with said engagement effecting means foreffecting said operative engagement with such fluid, and wherein saidengagement effecting means includes means for releasing such fluid fromsuch container section to such reservoir section.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein such supply of processing fluid isretained in a second housing, such second housing including access meansconfigured for cooperating with said engagement effecting means forintroducing such loop of film into such second housing.

5. Photographic apparatus for effectingthe processing of a strip ofphotographic film carried within a photographic film handling devicecomprising a first housing having an opening therein across which suchfilm strip may be serially advanced, a recess located behind suchopening, and film advancing means responsive to drive means of saidapparatus for advancing such film in such housing, said apparatuscomprising:

an apparatus housing;

receiving means for receiving a supply of processing fluid in saidapparatus housing;

mounting means for mounting such film handling device in said apparatushousing; and

means for efiecting engagement between progressive incremental sectionsof such film strip and such fluid, said engagement effecting meansincluding an arm member located in said apparatus housing such that aportion thereof enters such recess when said first housing is mounted insaid mounting 14 sive advancement of such sections of such film stripaway from a first to a second position within such first housing so asto advance such film strip through such fluid.

6. A photographic film handling system comprising:

a film handling device having a first housing retaining a strip ofphotographic film, said first housing including an opening across whichsaid film may be serially advanced, and means responsive to externaldrive means for advancing said film across said opening;

a film developing device having a second housing carrying a quantity ofprocessing fluid;

an apparatus housing including a first mounting means configured forreceiving said first housing and a second mounting means configured forreceiving said second housing; and

means disposed within said apparatus housing for effecting engagementbetween progressive incremental sections of said film strip and saidfluid, said engagement effecting means including means for withdrawing aloop of film through said opening of said first housing and forinjecting at least a portion of said loop into said fluid and drivemeans for cooperating with said film advancing means of said firsthousing for effecting the progressive advancement of said film strip atleast from a first to a second position within said first housing so asto advance such film strip through said fluid.

7. The system of claim 6 additionally including film drying meanslocated within said apparatus housing so as to be in operative relationwith portions of said film following the engagement of such portionswith such fluid.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said second housing includes acontainer for initially releasably storing said processing fluid and areservoir section into which said fluid may flow when released from saidcontainer and access means communicating with said reservoir section andconfigured for cooperating with said engagement effecting means foreffecting said engagement of said film with said fluid.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said film developing deviceadditionally includes an absorption material, and wherein said apparatusincludes means for bringing said absorption material into contact withsaid fluid in said reservoir section after said film has beentransported therethrough.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said film developing device isgenerally right parallelepiped in configuration, said reservoir sectionincludes a comer thereof, and said second mounting means is adapted toreceive said film developingdevice with said corner displaced lower thanthe other portions of said film developing device to obtain the maximumheight of said chemicals in said reservoir section.

11. A photographic film handling system comprising:

a film handling device having a first housing retaining a strip ofphotographic film, said first housing including an opening across whichsaid film may be serially advanced, and means responsive to externaldrive means for advancing said film across said opening;

a film developing device initially releasably fixed to said filmhandling device and configured to be disconnected from said filmhandling device prior to being disposed in other apparatus, said filmhandling device including a second housing carrying a quantity ofprocessing fluid;

an apparatus housing including a first mounting means configured forreceiving said first housing when said first and second housing aredisconnected from each other and a second mounting means configured forreceiving said second housing when said first and second housing aredisconnected from each other; and means disposed within said apparatushousing for effecting engagement between progressive incrementalsections of said film strip and said fluid, said engagement effectingmeans including means for effecting engagement between a portion of saidfilm strip and said fluid and drive means for cooperating with said filmadvancing means of said first housing for effecting the progressiveadvancement of said film strip at least from a first to a secondposition within said first housing so as to advance such film stripthrough said fluid.

l2. Photographic apparatus for effecting the processing of a strip ofphotographic film carried within a photographic film handling devicecomprising a first housing having an opening therein across which suchfilm strip may be serially advanced, and film advancing means responsiveto external drive means of said apparatus for advancing such film insuch first housing, said apparatus comprising:

an apparatus housing;

receiving means for receiving a second housing configured for retaininga supply of processing fluid,

such second housing including access means;

mounting means for mounting such film handling device in said apparatushousing; and

means for efi'ecting engagement between progressive apparatus housing,an idler connected to the other end of said spring member, and a guidepost extending from said apparatus housing above said receiving means soas to be positioned over such second housing such that said springmember can be displaced from a first position to a point where saididler will engage such film strip and displace it from such opening intocontact with said guide post which will urge said idler over such accessmeans and permit further displacement of said spring member to positionsaid idler with such film disposed therearound in such processing fluid,and said engagement efiecting means including drive means forcooperating with such film advancing means of such film handling devicefor effecting the progressive advancement of such sections of such filmstrip away from a first to a second position within such housing so asto advance such film strip through such fluid.

1. Photographic apparatus for effecting the processing of a strip ofphotographic film carried within a photographic film handling devicecomprising a first housing having an opening therein across which suchfilm strip may be serially advanced, and film advancing means responsiveto drive means of said apparatus for advancing such film strip in suchhousing, said apparatus comprising: an apparatus housing; receivingmeans for receiving a supply of processing fluid in said apparatushousing; mounting means for mounting such film handling device in saidapparatus housing; and means for effecting engagement betweenprogressive incremental sections of such film strip and such fluid, saidengagement effecting means including means for withdrawing a loop ofsuch strip of film through such opening of such first housing and forinjecting at least a portion of such loop into such fluid and drivemeans for cooperating with such film advancing means of such filmhandling device for effecting the progressive advancement of suchsections of such film strip away from a first to a second positionwithin such first housing so as to advance such film strip through suchfluid.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including film dryingmeans located within said apparatus so as to be in operative relation toportions of such film following the operative engagement of such filmportions with such fluid.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein suchsupply of fluid is retained in a second housing, such second housingincluding a container section for retaining such fluid and a reservoirsection into which such fluid may be released and access meanscommunicating with said reservoir section and configured for cooperatingwith said engagement effecting means for effecting said operativeengagement with such fluid, and wherein said engagement effecting meansincludes means for releasing such fluid from such container section tosuch reservoir section.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein such supplyof processing fluid is retained in a second housing, such second housingincluding access means configured for cooperating with said engagementeffecting means for introducing such loop of film into such secondhousing.
 5. Photographic apparatus for effecting the processing of astrip of photographic film carried within a photographic film handlingdevice comprising a first housing having an opening therein across whichsuch film strip may be serially advanced, a recess located behind suchopening, and film advancing means responsive to drive means of saidapparatus for advancing such film in such housing, said apparatuscomprising: an apparatus housing; receiving means for receiving a supplyof processing fluid in said apparatus housing; mounting means formounting such film handling device in said apparatus housing; and meansfor effecting engagement between progressive incremental sections ofsuch film strip and such fluid, said engagement effecting meansincluding an arm member located in said apparatus housing such that aportion thereof enters such recess when said first housing is mounted insaid mounting means, said arm member being mounted for displacement froma first position wherein said portion enters such recess and a secondportion wherein a loop of such film is withdrawn through such openingand into such fluid and drive means for cooperating with such filmadvancing means of such film handling device for effecting theprogressive advancement of such sections of such film strip away from afirst to a second position within such first housing so as to advancesuch film strip through such fluid.
 6. A photographic film handlingsystem comprising: a film handling device having a first housingretaining a strip of photographic film, said first housing including anopening across which said film may be serially advanced, and meansresponsive to external drive means for advancing said film across saidopening; a film developing device having a second housing carrying aquantity of processing fluid; an apparatus housing including a firstmounting means configured for receiving said first housing and a secondmounting means configured for receiving said second housing; and meansdisposed within said apparatus housing for effecting engagement betweenprogressive incremental sections of said film strip and said fluid, saidengagement effecting means including means for withdrawing a loop offilm through said opening of said first housing and for injecting atleast a portion of said loop into said fluid and drive means forcooperating with said film advancing means of said first housing foreffecting the progressive advancement of said film strip at least from afirst to a second position within said first housing so as to advancesuch film strip through said fluid.
 7. The system of claim 6additionally including film drying means located within said apparatushousing so as to be in operative relation with portions of said filmfollowing the engagement of such portions with such fluid.
 8. The systemof claim 6 wherein said second housing includes a container forinitially releasably storing said processing fluid and a reservoirsection into which said fluid may flow when released from said containerand access means communicating with said reservoir section andconfigured for cooperating with said engagement effecting means foreffecting sAid engagement of said film with said fluid.
 9. The system ofclaim 6 wherein said film developing device additionally includes anabsorption material, and wherein said apparatus includes means forbringing said absorption material into contact with said fluid in saidreservoir section after said film has been transported therethrough. 10.The system of claim 8 wherein said film developing device is generallyright parallelepiped in configuration, said reservoir section includes acorner thereof, and said second mounting means is adapted to receivesaid film developing device with said corner displaced lower than theother portions of said film developing device to obtain the maximumheight of said chemicals in said reservoir section.
 11. A photographicfilm handling system comprising: a film handling device having a firsthousing retaining a strip of photographic film, said first housingincluding an opening across which said film may be serially advanced,and means responsive to external drive means for advancing said filmacross said opening; a film developing device initially releasably fixedto said film handling device and configured to be disconnected from saidfilm handling device prior to being disposed in other apparatus, saidfilm handling device including a second housing carrying a quantity ofprocessing fluid; an apparatus housing including a first mounting meansconfigured for receiving said first housing when said first and secondhousing are disconnected from each other and a second mounting meansconfigured for receiving said second housing when said first and secondhousing are disconnected from each other; and means disposed within saidapparatus housing for effecting engagement between progressiveincremental sections of said film strip and said fluid, said engagementeffecting means including means for effecting engagement between aportion of said film strip and said fluid and drive means forcooperating with said film advancing means of said first housing foreffecting the progressive advancement of said film strip at least from afirst to a second position within said first housing so as to advancesuch film strip through said fluid.
 12. Photographic apparatus foreffecting the processing of a strip of photographic film carried withina photographic film handling device comprising a first housing having anopening therein across which such film strip may be serially advanced,and film advancing means responsive to external drive means of saidapparatus for advancing such film in such first housing, said apparatuscomprising: an apparatus housing; receiving means for receiving a secondhousing configured for retaining a supply of processing fluid, suchsecond housing including access means; mounting means for mounting suchfilm handling device in said apparatus housing; and means for effectingengagement between progressive incremental sections of such film stripand such fluid said engagement effecting means including means forselectively drawing a loop of film from such opening of such firsthousing, said loop drawing means comprising an S-shape spring memberhaving one end thereof slidably connected to said apparatus housing, anidler connected to the other end of said spring member, and a guide postextending from said apparatus housing above said receiving means so asto be positioned over such second housing such that said spring membercan be displaced from a first position to a point where said idler willengage such film strip and displace it from such opening into contactwith said guide post which will urge said idler over such access meansand permit further displacement of said spring member to position saididler with such film disposed therearound in such processing fluid, andsaid engagement effecting means including drive means for cooperatingwith such film advancing means of such film handling device foreffecting the progressive advancement of such sections of such filmstrip aWay from a first to a second position within such housing so asto advance such film strip through such fluid.